Bed cover anchoring device



April 26, 1955 v G. B. MOLLRING BED COVER ANCHORING DEVICE Filed July 29, 1950 617mm; B. Moi/Ping INVENTOR.

A TTOIPIVE Y United States Patent BED COVER ANCHORING DEVICE Gilman B. Mollring, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,739 3 Claims. (Cl. -320) This invention relates to an apparatus and method for anchoring bed covers at the foot of the bed, so that the task of bed-making may be expedited and the maintenance of the bed in a safe, neat and tidy condition may be facilitated.

In making a bed, the bed covers, such as the sheets and blankets, are generally tucked in at the foot of the bed between the mattress and the springs. In use of the bed, it frequently happens that the covers are pulled out, leaving the covers unanchored, so that they may be displaced or even fall off the bed, leaving the occupant inadequately protected. This is particularly true where the occupant is nervous or ill, and of course the consequences of the inadequate protection of the bed covers are particularly serious in such a case.

It is an object of this invention to supply an apparatus and method whereby the bed covers may be firmly anchored in place without interfering in the slightest with the normal use of the bed. This not only protects the occupant, but permits the bed to be made much more easily.

Briefly, the invention involves a cord which fits over the covers, passing along the end of the mattress, at the foot of the bed, about midway between the upper and lower edges of the mattress, and is fastened, through spring means, to the sides of the bed, about midway between the head and the foot thereof. The friction between the cord, the covers and the mattress has been found to be ample to anchor the covers firmly in place. Means are also provided for releasing the cord when it is desired to remove the covers from the bed.

The invention is illustrated in the attached drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view and Figure 2 represents a side view of a bed equipped with the bed cover anchoring device of this invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown bed rail 1 and foot board 2 of a conventional bed, the bed having bed posts 3 if desired. Mattress 4 and springs 5 are in the usual position, with bed covers 6 and bed spread 7 thereon. The bed covers 6 are anchored in place by the device of this invention, and the bed spread 7 may be placed over the device if desired to conceal it.

The anchoring device of this invention as shown in the drawing includes a cord 8 which passes along the entire end of the mattress at the foot of the bed, about midway between the upper and lower edges of the mattress, and then extends along each side of the mattress for part of the length of the bed rails 1. Each end of the cord 8 is attached to a spring 9, which is in turn attached to a hook or buckle 10. The joint between the spring and the cord may be protected by a bell-shaped guard 11 if desired. In the present case, the cord is knotted to the end of the spring, and the guard 11 hides the knot. A knot 12 serves to keep guard 11 in place. This construction makes it easy to change the length of the cord 8 as desired, by untying the two knots at each or either end, and attaching the cord to the spring at a different part of the cord. The guard is slipped over the connection and a knot tied just behind the guard to keep it in place.

The hook is attached to a stationary post 13, which is preferably a screw-eye which is screwed into bed rail 1. The distance between the foot end of the mattress 4 and the point at which screw-eye 13 is anchored into the bed rail should be such that the angle which cord 8 and spring 9 make along the side of the bed does not exceed about degrees from the horizontal. Generally 2,706,820 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 the screw-eye may be attached at a point about midway between the head and the foot of the bed.

In using the device, one or both of the hooks 10 is unfastened to permit the entire device to be set aside. Then the bed is made as usual, tucking the bed covers between the mattress and spring or not, as desired. Before putting on the bed spread, the ends of the device of this invention are fastened to the screw-eyes 13 by means of the hooks 10, and the cord 8 is stretched into the position shown on the drawing, i. e., across the foot end of the mattress about midway between the upper and lower edges of the mattress. The length of the cord 8 and/or the position of the screw-eyes 13 should be such that a firm tension is exerted by the springs 9, but the tension need not be as great as might be expected. It will be found that the covers will be kept firmly in place even during a night when the bed occupant may be quite restless. In the morning, the bed may easily be made without loosening the device. In fact, the device is very useful in this connection, because in making the bed, the sheets and covers may simply be pulled up toward the head of the bed and straightened against the tension of the cord. Since the covers are already in the proper position at the foot of the bed, making the bed becomes an exceedingly simple chore. As previously indicated, the device may be completely hidden by the bed spread if desired.

The cord 8 may be rope cord is particularly suitable. simple coil spring is preferred, such as one having a quarter-inch diameter, about six inches in length, and made of spring steel about 0.040 inch in diameter. Heavy elastic bands or cords may also be used as the spring means, but are generally less. satisfactory. The hooking means 10 is preferably of the locking type, such as an ordinary harness snap. While a screw-eye is preferred for the stationary post 13 to which the snap is attached, a hook may also be used. As indicated, the cord is preferably knotted to the spring means, and the guard 11 may be of the form commonly used for the sash cord of Venetian blinds.

If the bed is not equipped with bed rails, of course the post 13 may be fastened to the springs or to the frame which supports the mattress and/or springs. Also if desired, the cord may be placed along the end of the springs instead of the mattress, although it is preferably placed against the mattress as illustrated.

There is a further modification of the invention, which, although not preferred, is useful in special instances, as in the case of a baby crib. In this case, the spring means is needed at only one end of the cord. The other end of the cord may be hooked directly to the spring so that the device forms a complete loop. This loop is fitted around the lower end of the mattress and spring in a vertical direction, near the foot of the mattress. This shortens the effective length of the mattress, but it is of convenience in that the bed may be made entirely from one side. If desired, there may be an anchoring post such as screw-eye 13 at the side of the bed below the level of the top of the mattress, and both ends of the cord (one end through the spring means) may be hooked to the post. The same construction as described above for the cord, spring, hooks, guard and anchor post may be used. The primary difference is in the fact that a spring means is needed at only one end.

Other modifications of the invention which would be obvious to one skilled in the art, are to be included in the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bed cover anchoring device which comprises a flexible cord, knotted at each end to a coil spring, a bellshaped guard covering each knot and held in place by a second knot in the cord, a spring snap attached to the other end of each coil spring, and a screw-eye engaged with each snap.

or any flexible cord. Sash For spring means 9, a

2. A bed cover anchoring device which comprises a flexible cord, a spring fastened at each end thereof, guard means for protecting each of the two joints between the flexible cord and the springs, and at the other end of each spring, means for anchoring the spring to the side of the bed.

3. A device according to of the joints between the is formed by kno knot is protected UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent Lesh Littlejohn Nov. 30, 1875 Aug. 24, 1886 4 Stott Nov. 19, Syp Jan. 7, Buttrick June 6, Lockwood Dec. 16, Simpson Apr. 25, Breslauer Nov. 25, 

